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Glacier National Park's lodging system is one of the more extensive in the national park system. Within the park, you find lodges, backcountry chalets and cabins. Unfortunately for non-service dog owners, most of Glacier's in-park lodges do not allow pets. However, some options exist for those who wish to bring their dogs to the park.

Pet-Friendly Lodges

Located just inside the border of Glacier National Park, on the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road, St. Mary Lodge and Resort offers "Canine Companion" accommodations at its East Lodge. Dogs are restricted to two per room and must be 50 lbs. or under. Patrons cannot leave pets unattended at the lodge.

Camping with Pets

Though pets are banned on the trails and backcountry of Glacier National Parks, drive-in campgrounds are one of the places that they're permitted. Glacier has 13 campgrounds with more than 1,000 individual campsites. St. Mary and Fish Creek take reservations, while the rest of Glacier's campgrounds are first-come first-served. Pets must be kept on a leash of no more than six feet in length.

International Park Lodging

Glacier is a breathtaking national park in and of itself, but it is also part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, along with Waterton Lakes National Park across the border in Alberta, Canada. Unlike the typical park in the United States, Canadian national parks have towns inside them, offering more options for in-park lodging. If you don't mind crossing the border into Canada, a number of lodging properties are in the town of Waterton. Some like the Bear Mountain Motel and the Bayshore Inn offer pet-friendly rooms. Pet fees are charged.

Warnings

Glacier National Park is one of the parks in the continental United States that is home to both grizzly and black bears. While bear safety is always important, visitors with dogs need to be extra mindful of it. Dogs can antagonize bears and spur on an attack. In fact, Parks Canada lists dogs as one of the main causes of bear aggression. Always keep your dog leashed and under control. For more information on bear safety, see Resources.

Considerations

Pet-friendly rooms are limited inside Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks. Make your reservations well in advance, and don't forget to specify a pet-friendly room. Most lodging in Glacier and Waterton is only open during the summer season from May to September/October.

References

Resources

About the Author

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.